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As for the CAFE standards, they should be far harsher. If they had been harsher, the Big 3 wouldn't be having these problems. The Big 3 have failed to realize that people want more fuel efficient cars. The Japanese realized that long ago and, while having difficulties, are far sounder than American auto manufacturers.

The problem for CAFE standards is that it is the sales weighted mean fuel economy of the current model year of cars and light trucks manufacturered for sale in the U.S. The key point is the light trucks. The "Big 3" sell a disproportionate number of light trucks to the agriculture sector. In order to meet the CAFE standards, the cars manufacturered by the "Big 3" have to be very light and grossly under powered relative to the imports. The law was impleminted after the 1973 oil embargo to force manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles. Since then, the standard has been increased to show the "environmentalists" that the Democratic party is the "green" party. The problem is the law of unintended consequences, the "green" party did not consider the problems it created for Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.

Originally Posted by M Remington

The American government is not corrupt, American people are corrupt...

The American government may not be corrupt, but eventually ALL of the elected officials WILL become corrupt. Currently, most of the corruption is legal, but make no mistake, these officials are in government for power and money. For example, a few years ago, we published a study in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) where we showed that we could determine, with a simple needle biopsy, whether prostate or breast cancer was malignant before there was any evidence of micro-metastasizes (the cancer has spread). In other words, a woman would be able to make a good decision as to whether she should have a radical mastectomy or a simple lumpectomy. Currently, a doctor will tell the woman what her options are but he or she will not make any recommendations because of the risk of medical malpractice. If the woman makes the wrong decision, she either will die or be grossly disfigured. We got worldwide acclaim. The next day we received a call from NIH telling us that "off the record" our grant would NOT be refunded because the NIH had been contacted by numerous members of congress stating that our procedure would interfere with drug company profits. In other words, the elected officials' campaign coffers and entertainment perks are more important then their constituents’ health. This IS corruption! These people were elected to represent you and me, not themselves and the drug companies.

This is just one on many cases that I am familiar with where our elected representatives have put themselves before their constituents. I'm sure that there are others on this bulletin board that could recount equally disturbing cases.

...The American government is not corrupt, American people are corrupt (Ben Stein calls us a "nation of looters."). Our work ethic is gone, we don't save money, we try to make as much money as quickly and irresponsibly as possible, and we try to screw anyone we can to save a buck.

WoW!

Are all American people or some just some corrupt? Which groups are corrupt? Are the American people that are in government immune from this corruption? Is any political party more corrupt than the other? Are you corrupt?

So far our "government" has given 2 trillion away and taught business it's ok to fail for they will bail them out.

As to the auto industry, let them go Chap 11, rid them of the HORRIBLE legacy costs and start anew. 60B, the remaining portion of the 700B equates a couple of months on the roppe for the noose at their current burnrates.

[quote=Paul Johnson;
Thomas Jefferson believed that all governments, including our own, will eventually become corrupt and it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow corrupt governments. Has our government reached this point?[/quote]

So far our "government" has given 2 trillion away and taught business it's ok to fail for they will bail them out.

And the mayor of Philadelphia thinks it should be the Federal government's responsibility to bail the city out from its financial problems as well. (along with some other big cities like New York) He's drafting a letter to the President & President-Elect in this regard (per local TV news Saturday)

G.Clinchy@gmail.com"Know in your heart that all things are possible. We couldn't conceive of a miracle if none ever happened." -Libby Fudim

​I don't use the PM feature, so just email me direct at the address shown above.

What they need are sales so as to make profit. Why doesn't the government give everyone a huge rebate check to buy a new vehicle plus a tax break until its paid off.

I would have bought a new truck this year but the 30k in depreciation before the warranty ran out kinda made up my mind.

I am not worried if they go away there are enough companies that produce parts for the cars now that parts would easily be available. This bailout crap has to stop before China does not have enough money to bail us out.

"Communism only works in Heaven, where they don't need it, and in Hell, where they already have it" Ronald Reagan

What they need are sales so as to make profit. Why doesn't the government give everyone a huge rebate check to buy a new vehicle plus a tax break until its paid off.(

Sales will not fix the problem! There is an excellent article by Mr. Levine (a former airline excutive and a distinguished research scolar and senior lecturer at the NYU School of Law) on page 19 of the November 17, 2008 Wall Street Journal that explains the problems for the big three. These problems include such thing as the UAW "Jobs Bank" which guarentee's almost full wages and benifits for workers that lose their jobs due to automation or plant closure, dealerships (almost 5 times as many as Toyota) that cannot be closed because of state laws, revenue bonds for municipalities, more retirees than current workers, property and facilities that are not and probably will not ever be used again, and the list goes on and on. The argument that the manufacturers will go out of business is nothing but a scare tactic because the Democrats are afraid of losing UAW votes. Airlines have gone through Chapter 11 and they are still with us. Why would the auto manufacturers be any different? The only thing that is going to save the big 3 is Chapter 11.